FormscanBy Gary Carson - The better rated horses here don't exactly come into the race in red-hot form but it looks a nice opportunity for THE WEST'S AWAKE at the weights and he gets the vote. The ground went against him last time at Ballinrobe when he got tired in the closing stages behind the smart Moon Over Germany and this looks an easier task now. Gordon Elliott claims off A Toi Phil who was due to carry a 4lb penalty here and that looks a prudent move. The French-bred didn't make much impression in the Kerry National here on Wednesday but in this small field conditions race he has to be a contender. Lucky Pat is a consistent sort and although strictly on ratings he has a good bit to find it would be no surprise if he could get involved at the finish.

In his own grade he is brilliant and won't let you down and Jack (Kennedy) gave him a great ride again today,. It's been a good day.After A Toi Phil (FR) finished 1st at Thurles on Sun, 21st Jan 2018 2m 4f Chase Soft to Heavy

That is a plan landed! He was going really well in the Troytown and split the fourth last. He made a small bit of a noise coming up the straight and Mark (Walsh) just left him alone. I felt there was one of these races in him on his run at Cheltenham last year (fifth in the Close Brothers Novices Handicap Chase). He got in awful trouble there and two horses came down in front of him and he stormed up the hill. We just kept him wide today and fitted blinkers and a tongue tie which did the trick plus he got a beautiful ride from a very good 7lb claimer. If the ground is better in Cheltenham we may look at three miles because he was flying home last year.After Last Goodbye (IRE) finished 1st at Leopardstown on Sun, 4th Feb 2018 2m 5f Hcap Chase Soft to Heavy

We had him ready for this. That was the plan starting off here,. Fair play to Aaron he gave him a lovely ride and with the 7lb off him we were hoping he'd run a nice race. We've always thought plenty of him and then he had an injury. The ground was never quick enough for him in the autumn and he had two or three lovely runs. We left him off then and said we'd wait for the ground. There is a real good handicap in him. We have the Galway Plate and the Midlands National in our heads long term. He handles around here and won over hurdles here. We knew he'd handle the track, he's very balanced and jumps beautifully so that's a big help to him. He loves Galway so it would be the main plan if it worked out.After Lucky Pat (IRE) finished 1st at Kilbeggan on Fri, 21st Apr 2017 2m 3f Hcap Chase Good

The owners (Mrs John Magnier) have been very patient as he hurt himself when he fell in Killarney last August. Ger Kelly in Fethard Veterinary did a great job as he had a chip in a bone in his hock. He was supposed to run in the Festival at Punchestown but when we schooled him he overreached himself and he couldn't run. He was off for about a week and I thought he might be a bit short today but he jumped himself there. He was probably the only horse that jumped well. Hopefully he'll improve and he'll probably end up in the west at the end of July. He might go for the Galway Plate qualifier in Kilbeggan.After The West's Awake (IRE) finished 1st at Punchestown on Wed, 15th May 2019 2m Hcap Chase Good